Feb 15, 2024

Greetings,

Starting Monday, we will begin repairs on the plaster in the church. Our old roof leaked quite a bit causing some damage throughout the ceiling area. Having replaced the roof, we waited to see if the leaking problem had been solved and then waited for the plaster to completely dry out. Then there was the tricky effort of finding a period of time that would not interfere too much with the parish calendar. Who wants to look at scaffolding during Christmas or Easter, or during a wedding or First Communion? Lent seemed a proper penitential time to have work going on, so for the next week up to two weeks restoration work will be occurring. Fortunately, it is all covered by insurance.

When the work is completed in the church, the crew will move to the rectory to do repair work there. The rectory is nearing being a century old and it is time to make some long-standing repairs to her plaster walls and ceilings as well.

IN OTHER NEWS:

PARISH MISSION: Our Lenten Parish Mission begins next Sunday February 25! Fr. Thomas Blau O.P. will be presenting next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 7pm in the Church. Fr. Blau, a Dominican priest, is one of the Eucharistic Preachers chosen by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops whose special mission it is to preach about the Eucharist during this time of Eucharistic Revival. How very blessed we are to have him here at St. Sebastian. Before each evening’s session, Fr. Blau will hear confessions beginning at 6pm. This would be a great way to kick off your Lenten season.

CONCERT: There was a fantastic concert here last weekend. The CityMusic Cleveland Chamber orchestra performed for about an hour in the church. It was a concert I wish I had told you not to miss. It was fantastic. There is another fun concert this Sunday. It is Lent, I know, but every Sunday is considered “a little Easter” by the Church. So, the Chardon Polka Band will be performing in our Coffee House Series in Zwisler Hall this Sunday at 4pm. These guys are quite entertaining! Tickets are $10, but children under 8 are free. Snacks will be served. Dancing is encouraged but not mandatory.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES: Last weekend was our Catholic Charities in Pew Appeal. A huge thank you to everybody who participated and to those who helped with the weekend’s campaign, especially the Pre-Cana couples (4:30), our Scouts (9:00) and our PSR students (11:00.) If you were not here or were not able to turn in your envelope at the time, you may see Cathy Sivec in the parish offices or pick one up this weekend from an usher and drop it in the collection basket. You may “Text to Give” by sending CCGIVE to 41444. There is also the opportunity to give online at www.ccdocle.org/support-us/donate-online.

LIVE STREAMING UPDATE: I wrote to you that we were having difficulties with our live streaming and that repairs were going to be costly. Fortunately, funding has been found and equipment has been ordered. While live streaming does not take the place of our Sunday Mass obligation for those who are able to make it, it does provide a great service for our shut-ins. Thank you to everybody who keeps this ministry going!

NOTE FROM THE BISHOP’S OFFICE: All are invited to attend a Prayer Vigil for Peace in Ukraine at 6pm Saturday, Feb. 24 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 1007 Superior Ave., Cleveland. The event, marking the second anniversary of the war, will be hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and Greater Cleveland’s Ukrainian community. Bishop Edward Malesic is scheduled to be the principal speaker and clergy from the orthodox communities are expected to participate. For more information, email cma@gmail.com

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck